At the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing, MI is supporting a medical facility to provide care for people fleeing the war in Lebanon. Around 200.000 people have fled to Syria since the start of the war in Lebanon.

Syria: Malteser provide emergency aid to refugees from Lebanon

Malteser Hilfsdienst eV – Headquarters – 51103 Cologne

Press information

April 1, 2026

Cologne/Damascus. Since the start of the war in the Middle East, more than 200.000 people have fled from Lebanon to Syria. The vast majority are returning Syrians, but increasing numbers of Lebanese are also fleeing the fighting to the neighboring country. At two border crossings, Malteser International supports a medical facility where refugees can receive initial medical care. Each facility is staffed with two doctors and a nurse, providing basic medical care. On average, the teams treat 200 patients daily at each facility, ensuring timely care for the sick.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of people fleeing across the border into Syria. Initially, there was hope that this war would soon end, but that hope is fading day by day. The people crossing the border are frightened and desperate. Many had previously fled to Lebanon seeking refuge, but now they are no longer safe there either,” says Ali Aburras, head of the Malteser International office in Syria.

“People are arriving with urgent medical needs, mostly with acute illnesses, complications from untreated chronic conditions, and serious cases requiring timely transfer to a hospital. To meet this need, it is important that our teams are directly at the border crossings to provide immediate care,” says Aburras.

Since 2012, Malteser International, in cooperation with local partners, has been supporting people in Syria, primarily in the medical field. Even after the end of the war, more than 16 million people there are still dependent on humanitarian aid.

Malteser International (MI) operates as an international humanitarian aid organization. It is a relief agency of the Catholic Order of Malta and fulfills the Order's mission of "helping those in need." Its mission is to improve the health and living conditions of suffering and displaced people worldwide. The organization provides assistance to people in need in 32 countries, regardless of religion, political beliefs, origin, or gender. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence form the basis of its work. Further information: www.malteser-international.org